Food Rest

ABSTRACT

A food rest includes a base and at least one support body extending upwardly from the base. The support body defines a recess configured to at least partially support a resting food item. In another configuration, a food rest includes first and second legs, each having first and second ends, and a substantially U-shaped food support joining the first ends of the legs. The legs are configured to stand on their second ends to at least partially support a resting food item on the food support extending therebetween. In yet another configuration, a food rest includes a base, at least one support extending upwardly from the base, and a food support extending laterally from the support. In another configuration, a food rest includes first and second legs extending upwardly from a base, and a food support joining the legs.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to food rests.

BACKGROUND

A number of food items are elongated and generally eaten from eitherlongitudinal end. Examples of such food items include burritos, hotdogs,and wraps. These food items are generally served on a plate or trayand/or wrapped in paper or foil.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a food rest includes a base and at least one support bodyextending upwardly from the base. The support body defines a recessconfigured to exert a force tending to support a food item.

Implementations of this aspect of the disclosure may include one or moreof the following features. In some implementations, the recess issubstantially U-shaped, and the base may be a tray or basket. In someinstances, a substantially flat or planar top surface of the recessforms an angle with the base of between about 10° and about 80°. Inother instances, a top surface of the recess defines a peaked shapeforming a ridge or an apex along a plane (e.g. center plane) defined bythe support body. The recess may also define an arcuate top surface.

In another aspect, a food rest includes first and second legs, eachhaving first and second ends, and a substantially U-shaped food supportextending between the first ends of the first and second legs. The firstand second legs are configured to stand on their second ends to exert aforce tending to support a food item resting on the food supportextending therebetween.

In yet another aspect, a food rest includes a base, at least one supportextending upwardly from the base, and an arm (also referred to as a foodsupport) extending laterally from the support. The arm is configured toexert a force tending to support a resting food item. In someimplementations, the arm defines an arc.

In another aspect, a food rest includes first and second legs extendingupwardly from a base. A food support extends between the first andsecond legs and is configured to at least partially support a restingfood item. In some implementations, each leg has first and second ends,with the second ends of the first and second legs joined to the base andthe first ends of the first and second legs joined to the food support.In some implementations, the food support is pivotally attached to thefirst and second legs, allowing the food support to rotate toaccommodate support of a resting food item at different angles.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of thefollowing features. In some implementations, the food support issubstantially U-shaped and may be made of a compliant material. The basemay be a tray or basket. In some instances, a substantially flat orplanar top surface of the food support forms an angle with the base ofbetween about 10° and about 80°. In other instances, a top surface ofthe food support defines a peaked shape forming a ridge of an apex alonga plane (e.g. center plane) defined by the food support. The foodsupport may also define an arcuate top surface.

The details of one or more implementations of the disclosure are setfourth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Otherfeatures, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the descriptionand drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food rest.

FIG. 2A is a top view of the food rest shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the food rest shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a food rest supporting a food item.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a food rest defining a slanted recess.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a food rest defining a peaked recess.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a food rest defining an arched recess.

FIG. 7-8 are side views of food rests having substantially “Y”configurations.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a food rest having substantially an “H”configuration.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a food rest having substantially an “M”configuration.

FIGS. 11-12 are perspective views food rests.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a food rest with a food support defininga slanted top surface.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a food rest with a food support defininga peaked top surface.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a food rest with a food support definingan arched top surface.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a food rest having a probable foodsupport.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a food rest supporting a food item.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While eating an elongated food item, such as a burrito, hotdog, or wrap,a consumer may need to set the food item down. However, upon setting thefood item down, contents or parts of the food item may tend to spillout, thus causing a mess or the inconvenience of having to eat carefullyenough to avoid a mess. However, generally, the food item will stayintact when propped at an angle or slight incline.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a food rest 100 includes a base 110 and at leastone support body 120 extending upwardly from the base 110. The supportbody 120 defines a substantially U-shaped recess 122 configured to exerta force tending to support a resting food item 10 (e.g. a burrito, wrap,or hotdog). The verb support means to bear or hold up (a load, mass,structure, part, etc.). In some examples, the support body 120 issubstantially hollow, defining an inner cavity 123 as shown in FIG. 2B,for ease of manufacturability, while in others, the support body 120 isa solid piece of material. In one example, the food rest 100 isinflatable for portability and compact storage.

The base 110 is configured to prevent tipping of the food rest 100 bythe food item 10, which rests on or against the food rest 100. In oneexample, the base 110 is substantially flat or planar. However, in otherexamples, the base 110 may define any shape suitable for stability (e.g.tripod). In some examples, the base 110 is configured to carry outfunctions other than stabilizing the food rest 100. For example, thebase 110 can be configured as a tray or basket, as shown in FIG. 3. Insome implementations, the base 110 is integrally formed with the supportbody 120, whereas in others, the base 110 is a separate piece attachedto the support body 120, for example with a fastener (e.g. screw or hookand loop) or an adhesive.

The food rest 100 may be fabricated from plastic (e.g. injection or blowmolded plastic), a recyclable material, such as cardboard, or any othersuitable material. The food rest 100 advantageously allows a user torest a food item 10 against the food rest 100, thereby generallyavoiding partial disassembly or spillage of the food item 10 that mightoccur if it were to simply rest on a plate.

The examples illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 provide cross sections of the foodrest 100 and, in particular, different profiles of the recess 122defined by the support body 120 as shown in FIG. 1. In some instances,the recess 122 has a substantially flat slanted top surface 124 formingan angle, θ, with the base 110, as shown in FIG. 4. The angle θ may bebetween about 10° and about 80°. The recess 122 may have a substantiallypeaked top surface 124, as shown in FIG. 5, forming an apex 125 along acenter plane 15 defined by the support body 120. In other instances, therecess 122 has a substantially arcuate or arched top surface 124, asshown in FIG. 6. Each of the aforementioned recess profiles aid supportof the resting food item 10. The examples of FIG. 5-6 are amenable toreceiving food items resting on either side of the support body 120.

In some implementations, the support body 120 defines a substantially“Y” shape with the recess 120 to support the resting food item 10, asshown in FIGS. 7-8. Other suitable profiles may be used as well, such asan “H” or “M” profile, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively. In eachconfiguration, the support body 120 at least partially supports part ofthe food item 10 in the defined recess 122.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 11, the food rest 100 includes firstand second legs 112, 114, each having first and second ends 113, 115. Asubstantially U-shaped food support 130 joins the first ends 113 of thefirst and second legs 112, 114. The first and second legs 112, 114, areconfigured to stand on their second ends 115 to at least partiallysupport a resting food item 10 on the food support 130 extending betweenthe first and second legs 112, 114.

Referring to FIG. 12, the food rest 100 includes a base 110 and at leastone support 140 extending upwardly from the base 110. A food support 130extending laterally from the support 140 is configured to at leastpartially support a resting food item 10. As shown, the food support 130may be substantially U-shaped or define an arcuate shape.

The examples illustrated in FIGS. 13-15 provide cross sections of thefood rest 100 and, in particular, different profiles of the food support130, as shown in FIGS. 11-12. A top surface 134 of the food support 130may be substantially flat and slanted to form an angle, β, with the base110 of between about 10° and about 80°. The top surface 134 of the foodsupport 130 may be substantially peaked forming an apex 135 along thecenter plane 17 defined by the food support 130. In some instances, thetop surface 134 of the food support 130 is substantially arcuate orarched.

Referring to FIGS. 16-17, the food rest 100 includes first and secondlegs 112, 114, each having first and second ends 113, 115. A base 110joins the second ends 115 of the first and second legs 112, 114, as thefirst and second legs 112, 114, extend upwardly from the base 110. Afood support 130, which may be substantially U-shaped, joins the firstand second legs 112, 114, preferably at first ends 113. The food support130 is configured to at least partially support a resting food item 10.In some implementations, the food support 130 is pivotally attached tothe first and second legs 112, 114, preferably at first ends 113. Thefood support 130 rotates to support a resting food item 10 at variousangles, as shown in FIG. 17, which also depicts the base 110 configuredas a tray. In some examples, the food support 130 is a sling made of acompliant material, such as a fabric or rope.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it willbe understood that various modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, otherimplementations are within the scope of the following claims.

1. A food rest comprising: a base; and a support body extending upwardlyfrom the base and defining a recess configured to exert a force tendingto support a food item.
 2. The food rest of claim 1, wherein the recessis U-shaped.
 3. The food rest of claim 1, wherein the base comprises atray.
 4. The food rest of claim 1, wherein a planar top surface of therecess forms an angle with the base of between about 10° and about 80°.5. The food rest of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the recess definesa peaked shape forming an apex along a plane defined by the supportbody.
 6. The food rest of claim 1, wherein the recess defines an arcuatetop surface.
 7. A food rest comprising: first and second legs, each leghaving first and second ends; and a U-shaped food support extendingbetween the first ends of the first and second legs; wherein the firstand second legs are configured to stand on their second ends to exert aforce tending to support a resting food item on the food supportextending therebetween.
 8. The food rest of claim 7, wherein asubstantially flat top surface of the food support forms an angle withthe base of between about 10° and about 80°.
 9. The food rest of claim7, wherein a top surface of the food support defines a peaked shapeforming an apex along a center plane defined by the food support. 10.The food rest of claim 7, wherein the food support defines an arcuatetop surface.
 11. A food rest comprising: a base; a support extendingupwardly from the base; and an arm extending laterally from the support,the arm being configured to exert a force tending to support a restingfood item.
 12. The food rest of claim 11, wherein the arm defines anarc.
 13. The food rest of claim 11, wherein the base comprises a tray.14. The food rest of claim 11, wherein a substantially flat top surfaceof the arm forms an angle with the base, the angle being between about10° and about 80°.
 15. The food rest of claim 11, wherein a top surfaceof the arm defines a peaked shape forming a ridge along a center planedefined by the food support.
 16. The food rest of claim 11, wherein thefood support defines an arcuate top surface.
 17. A food rest comprising:a base; first and second legs extending upwardly from the base; and afood support extending between the first and second legs, the foodsupport being configured to exert a force tending to support a restingfood item.
 18. The food rest of claim 17, wherein the food support issubstantially U-shaped.
 19. The food rest of claim 17, wherein the foodsupport is pivotally attached to the first and second legs, the foodsupport rotating to accommodate support of a resting food item atdifferent angles.
 20. The food rest of claim 17, wherein the foodsupport comprises a compliant material.
 21. The food rest of claim 17,wherein the base comprises a tray.
 22. The food rest of claim 17,wherein a substantially flat top surface of the food support forms anangle with the base, the angle being between about 10° and about 80°.23. The food rest of claim 17, wherein a top surface of the food supportdefines a peaked shape forming an apex along a center plane defined bythe food support.
 24. The food rest of claim 17, wherein the foodsupport defines an arcuate top surface.